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Are you ready for a recruitment career with Cobalt?

James Scott, Residential Real Estate Consultant at Cobalt Recruitment shares his experience of working in recruitment.

It seems ironic that I spend my days advising people on their careers, yet struggle to understand how it is I came into mine. Like many in the recruitment industry, I stumbled into my current role; it was not something I had ever previously given much thought to. Yet recruitment is one of the fastest growing industries in London, and here I am, finishing up my first year working for one of the top real estate recruitment agencies in the big smoke. Hopefully, I can provide some insight on what a career in recruitment and specifically with Cobalt looks like.

My journey with CobaltThe start of my journey to Cobalt is not exactly what one would call ‘conventional’. Having chatted outside of the office about the opportunities available at Cobalt with a few of my current colleagues, I was compelled to apply for a position here. I knew little about the industry but after some research I was intrigued by Cobalt’s glowing reputation and progression potential so I submitted my application and was invited to interview. Over the next few days I was put through a detailed selection process and was offered and accepted a position to join the Residential Real Estate Team.

I’m not sure I was fully prepared for what I had just gotten myself into; I was mostly excited, but also nervous, especially as I knew very little about sales, residential property or London itself. But what an adventure it has been. During my first few months, I had my head down and eyes and ears open, trying to take in as much as possible. I was put through a structured and extensive training process. I shadowed my colleagues and line manager in all they did, sat in on internal training sessions and was constantly pushed to develop my sales and consultative skills.

Average day?There is no such thing as an average day in recruitment. One of the things I love most about my job is that no day at Cobalt is ever the same. Given the nature of working with people, there are always new challenges to overcome and new lessons to be learnt. But common daily tasks include making calls to clients and jobseekers, attending meetings, searching on job boards for strong CVs and negotiating deals.

Success in recruitment is about going the extra mile; not necessarily just staying late. I’d love to be able to say that if you work late every night you’ll take home the big bucks. Rather it’s about holding meetings outside of the normal working day, attending late night functions, all in an effort to build that essential bond with both clients and candidates.

What can you expect from a career in recruitment?Recruitment is a dynamic and unique profession that demands a high level of self discipline. The gift and the curse of this industry is that everything is on you. The harder you work and apply yourself, the better your rewards but it’s important to remember the reverse is also true.

For those looking for an easy ride, this won’t be the path for you. Recruitment is not simply about matching candidates with job vacancies and charging a fee; it’s about building relationships and understanding your market. The reality is that people buy into people and it takes a certain type of individual to be able to walk into a crowded room with confidence and establish a connection. On top of that, recruiters are consultants, and it is fundamentally important that you understand your market.

What a lot of people fail to take into account is that recruitment at its core is a sales orientated role; selling the purest of resources: people themselves. It is about problem solving and reading individuals, understanding how best to advise and consult your clients. It is a competitive and fast paced industry where a thick skin is called for.

The last year has flown by and I still have plenty more to achieve with Cobalt. When you look at what Cobalt has, you see a glowing reputation, strong training, exciting office locations and events with a limitless earning potential.

If you like life in the fast lane, working with forward-thinking and innovative colleagues, then a career in recruitment with Cobalt is definitely worth considering.

Send your CV to jobs@cobaltrecruitment.com or call Christopher Mackenzie on 0207 478 2500 if you are interested in joining our team.

About CobaltCobalt is a leading international search and recruitment provider to the Property, Construction & Engineering and Financial Services & Accounting sectors. It has offices in the UK, Europe, Middle East, Asia and New Zealand and recruits at all levels from recently qualified professionals to Board Directors on a permanent and interim basis.